Swine flu death second tragedy for family

Lee, Kate, Greg and Jodie Roche. Photo / Supplied

Swine flu has claimed its first victim this year a healthy 48-year-old woman who got sick while visiting Auckland.

Lee Roche, from Papamoa, in the Bay of Plenty, succumbed to the virus late last month after falling ill in May.

Her daughters Kate, 23, and Jodie, 25, are stunned their mother, who ate healthily and exercised daily could fall to swine flu.

Lee Roche's death is the second tragedy for the family; in August last year their father Greg died of cancer.

Last year 20 people were confirmed to have died of swine flu and another 15 were suspected to have died as the virus, known as H1N1, swept the world.

But with one million people having had a flu injection, and 30 per cent of the population thought to be immune after being exposed to the virus last year, medical authorities are not expecting the same death rate this winter.

Kate Roche said it was a shock how quickly her mother fell ill. Lee had been staying with Kate in Auckland when she became sick. After driving back to Papamoa, she texted Kate to say she was going to hospital.

Lee was in an induced coma for five weeks in Tauranga Hospital. During that time Kate and Jodie stayed at their mum's bedside and supported each other.

Kate said the medical staff tried everything they could, right up to the end.

"She just stayed sleeping really. We didn't have to make any decision, she made it for us," said Kate.

Kate said people getting sick should go to their doctor straightaway.

Lee did not go to her GP until a week after she started feeling ill. "It was probably a little bit too late," Kate said.

Lee had nursed her husband Greg after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2008.

Kate said that her mum was 18 when she met her dad.

"We had the happiest childhood, our parents were still very much in love with each other.

"They did everything together."

Despite the impression this tragedy gives, flu rates are down this year compared with last winter.

Deputy director of public health, Dr Fran McGrath, said anyone with flu-like symptoms who had not been immunised should get a prescription for the anti-viral Tamiflu within 48 hours.

McGrath could not predict what the rest of the winter flu season may bring.

"We don't know what's going to happen in the coming months. Our expectations are we won't see the same peaks as last year."


* 1 swine flu death this year

* 20 confirmed swine deaths last year. 15 more suspected.

* 1 million people who have had a flu jab this winter

anna.rushworth@hos.co.nz